One of the most eagerly awaited first-round games in the 2026 NBA Playoffs has been turned upside down by a practice-room collision. Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant was ruled out of Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers after a right knee contusion, and his condition remains unclear, with a possibility that he might not play in Game 2.
Experts are warning that the 37-year-old may have a more serious problem. NBA Injury Doctor Dr. Evan Jeffries, a physical therapist and NBA injury analyst, cautioned that contact directly with a tendon may progress beyond a bruise on the surface to acute tendonitis.
According to ESPN, Durant is experiencing a deep bruise in his right patellar tendon, and his status to play Game 2 is still not confirmed. Although the Rockets show optimism that he will play, they are not guaranteeing it.
The Rockets struggled in Game 1, failing to hit 100 points against a Lakers team missing two of its top scorers. The performance raised serious doubts about their ability to compete in the series without their star forward.
Durant has a history of lower body injuries, including a ruptured Achilles tendon in the 2019 NBA finals, which cost him the entire subsequent season. Despite this, he has only missed four regular season games this year, making his absence in the playoffs even more concerning.
